Another Teenager Dies in North Carolina Traffic Accident
In Henderson County, a 16-year-old driver died on Tuesday when the vehicle he was driving went off the road and hit a tree. According to North Carolina Highway Police, Travis Sain was driving approximately 50mph in a 40mph zone. Another teenager who was riding in the car with him was transported to Mission Hospital.
This is the third teen motorist death in Western North Carolina already this year. On January 29, a 15-year-old passenger died in a single-vehicle crash that occurred close to Waynesville. The vehicle’s driver was the same age. Earlier in January, a 16-year-old driver died after he drove off the road and hit a tree close to Canton. The teen driver was reportedly driving nearly twice the speed limit in a 35 mph zone.
For the entire 2008, there were only four reports of fatalities involving teen drivers in this area. Speed was cited as a cause in two of those deadly North Carolina motor vehicle crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2007:
• 3,184 young drivers died in US motor vehicle crashes.
• 252,000 young drivers sustained injuries.
• 6,982 young drivers were involved in 55,681 deadly auto accidents.
• 1,631,000 young drivers were involved in traffic accidents that were reported to police.
• 31% of young drivers involved in deadly accidents lacked a valid driver’s license when the accident happened because of a license revocation or suspension.
While North Carolina law allows teenagers to get their driver’s license when they turn 16, this does not instantly make them good drivers. Learning how to drive properly and safely takes time and experience.
According to a study conducted by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Sponsored by the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, the three most common risk factors for people ages 8 to 17 that can lead to motor vehicle deaths are riding with young drivers, riding without seat belts, and riding on fast speeding roads.
Henderson teen dies in traffic accident, Citizen-Times.com, February 5, 2009
Teen Drivers, Insurance Information Institute, January 2009
Related Web Resources:
2007 Young Driver Traffic Safety Facts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
North Carolina Teen Drivers Guide, DMV.org
